Pirates Log

Media Credit: Adm Golub Allen Passalaqua

As we approach this year's Celebration of the Humanities competition we here at The Pirates' log have decided to sit down with former winners and talk with them about how the competition helped to shape their lives and careers. In this issue we are proud to feature Allen Passalaqua. Passalaqua won awards in the competition for writing and art in 2004. Today he is a highly respected artist, professional comic book colorist, photographer, writer, editor and graphic designer.

Pirates' Log: First of all Allen, thank you for taking the time for this interview today. I bet you have been very busy lately.

Passalaqua: I am glad to do things like this. Thank you for taking the time to work with me and for writing about me.

Pirates' Log: Well, let's dig right into this. What inspired you to enter The Celebration of the Humanities competition here in 2004?

Passalaqua: At the time I was taking a writing class here and I was very proud of the work that I was producing for the class. I thought I would take a shot at the contest. It turned out to be a good choice. I really did not think that I would win.

Pirates' Log: You took second place in writing and an honorable mention was awarded to you for a painting that you did. That is pretty diverse. Does your writing ever influence your painting or drawing or vice versa?

Passalaqua: I have always been a very visual and vocal person. I tend to write about what I paint or draw. The way that I work tends to bring my characters full circle. I like to take them from the canvas and give them another dimension in writing.

Pirates' Log: Your primary job right now is coloring comic books right? The way that you work makes sense to me. With your work in comic books you have to be used to bringing characters to life with stories. What comic books have you worked on?

Passalaqua: I have worked with Marvel comics, DC comics and others. I most proud of the work I have done on Batman, Justice Society of America and Living in Infamy.

Pirates' Log: What advice would you have for a writer wanting to enter this year's competition?

Passalaqua: I would tell the writer to write from their heart and soul. I would say to not write to impress a judge. Most of all I would tell the writer to be as descriptive as possible. When I write I want people to be able to see the characters that I am writing about in their mind.

Pirates' Log: How has competition helped shape your work and career?

Passalaqua: Competing has helped get me to the point where I can feel confident about what I do for a living. I like hearing the reactions that people give me about my work. That is one reason why I enter these contests. Feedback whether it is good or bad helps to shape my work. It's not a win or lose deal for me. It's about the feedback.

Pirates' Log: People look up to you and respect you for succeeding like you have. What is the one thing that you would tell inspiring artists?

Passalaqua: Again, I would say to write from the heart and soul. If you believe in your art get it out there in front of people. If your works is honest and means something to you then that will show and people will take it seriously. Don't take feedback personally. Let it work for you. Let your artwork satisfy your soul and feed the fire that keeps you writing, drawing or whatever else that you may do as an artist.

Pirates' Log: Your advice is very passionate and honest and I think that the people reading this will really learn from it.

To learn more about Allen Passalaqua and see more of his work, see the following websites: http://www.angryf.com

http://flickr.com/photos/angryf For more information about this year's Celebration of the Humanities see:

http://www.gomjc.org/celebration/

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